Contrasting lands
With a total area of 1,001 km², the archipelago, composed of islands of volcanic origin, is located on the west coast of Africa, in the Gulf of Guinea. It consists of two main islands (called concelhos), São Tomé (859 km²) and Príncipe (142 km²), and several small islets, including Pedras Tinhosa and Rolas. The capital, the country's main port, is the city of São Tomé (population about 72,000), which is nestled on the northern coast of the island of São Tomé. The other major city is Santo António on the island of Príncipe, with a population of about 5,000. The distance between the island of São Tomé and the island of Príncipe is 152 km. As for Ilheu das Rolas (Doves Island), a small islet facing the southern tip of São Tomé, it is crossed by the equator. Numerous beautiful beaches line the shores of the islands. The waters are clear, of a superb turquoise blue, and full of fish. The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe belong to the chain of islands in the Gulf of Guinea that emerged as a result of intense volcanic activity in the secondary era. The highest point of São Tomé, Pico de São Tomé, reaches 2,024 m, and that of Príncipe, Papagaio Peak, 942 m. This tormented relief makes it possible to pass, in a few kilometers, from the sea level to more than 2 000 m of altitude. These are young islands with a steep relief. Their fauna and flora are representative of a hot and humid climate and the proximity of the coasts of central Africa. However, the conquest of the islands by man has modified the species currently present. The introduction of certain crops, such as sugar cane, cocoa, coffee and, finally, palm trees, has somewhat transformed the landscape. Moreover, the difference in climate and vegetation from north to south of each island is striking. Rainfall can triple from one end of the island to the other during the rainy season, the north remaining relatively dry compared to the very wet south. This phenomenon results from the action of the west winds on the relief more pronounced in the south: the mountains playing the role of barrier stop the clouds which are emptied when they arrive above the massifs. Thus, the northern part presents a vegetation of savannahs in the plains, replaced in places by cultures. On the island of São Tomé, the coastline is often made up of sand and rocks in the north, while along the coast to the south, the base of the mountainous massifs splits the sea. On the other hand, numerous rivers originate in the heart of the mountain range and flow from both sides of the island to the sea. The two most important are Río Ribeira Afonso, which flows into the ocean at Santana, and Rio Grande, south of São João dos Angolares. On the other hand, on the island of Príncipe, only the south-western part is inaccessible by the sea; the rest of the coast lined with coconut groves offers large sandy bays. Some rivers flow down the mountains: the most important one, Río Papagaio, waters Santo António. The forest covers the major part of the center of the two islands. Tropical forest of altitude, it is composed of an important variety of big and old trees and presents the biggest rate of endemism. At the meeting point of the rivers and the ocean, mangrove forests border the waterways.
A hot and humid climate
São Tomé and Príncipe has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. From January to February (the shortest, "Gravanito") and from June to September (the longest, called "Gravana"), the two dry seasons offer cooler temperatures, oscillating around 25°C during the day, with some cloudy passages, however punctuated by beautiful clearings. From October to December and from March to May, these are the two wet seasons with heavy and sudden rainfall, usually at night. These periods are the occasion to appreciate a luxuriant vegetation. The annual rainfall is about 6,000 mm in the south, while it is around 1,000 mm in the north. It is advisable to visit the country during the dry seasons, when the air is more bearable and the rains less frequent, but the sea remains cool and less clear.
Remarkable fauna and flora
Thanks to its geographical position, its topography and the fertility of its soils, the archipelago offers everywhere a luxuriant and varied vegetation according to the ambient microclimates. There are primary and secondary forests, savannah areas in the north, cocoa plantations throughout the territory and many varieties of bananas and fruits of all kinds. The islands of the Gulf of Guinea are home to endemic flora and fauna of great scientific interest. Several hundred thousand years of isolation and evolution have given life to a typical fauna and flora adapted to the conditions of the island. Out of 700 species of plants, a hundred are endemic, such as the giant begonia which can reach 3 meters in height, the tree fern or the numerous orchids that you can see in the botanical garden of Bom Sucesso. Nearly 180 species of birds reside on the island, of which about thirty are endemic. Some of them are considered the rarest birds in the world, such as the São Tomé's big bill, the shrike or the olive ibis. The clear waters around the islands are home to a rich variety of marine flora and fauna: diodons, moray eels, surgeonfish, green and hawksbill turtles, as well as blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo and barracuda, much to the delight of fishermen, who can also encounter numerous schools of dolphins and, depending on the season, humpback whales. Scuba diving is practiced on both islands, in easily accessible sites of impressive beauty. The archipelago also contains many important nesting sites for leatherback turtles, a rare and endangered species. Since an April 2014 decree, hunting sea turtles has become illegal and severe penalties and fines are now applied. On the other hand, few land mammals are observed. Along the road run many pigs with their young.
